THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL (THE LAMANITE)

1And now I return to my song of Corianton and Isabel.

2Now, when Corianton returned unto Zarahemla, he found not that Isabel for whom he had previously left a stewardship of his own substance. For, so strait had been the persecution of her by the people that she had departed from out of the city and taken up a household of her own.

3Now, this was done without the knowledge of Alma, nor did he know of her existence in Zarahemla, for Corianton had not communicated unto his father his plans for her support. And behold, even had Alma truly believed the rumors voiced about her, he would not have conscienced her persecution. For, though he had the pride of a father, yet had he charity.

4But Corianton searched for her and found her. And behold, he found her in low circumstances. Yea, so low were her circumstances that, had Corianton not come back from the field of his service when he did, she would surely have died from want of the necessities of life. And, finding her thus, Corianton was wroth with his father, and also with the people of Zarahemla, and he took her speedily out of the land. Yea, he did take with him only her and a few belongings and they did depart into the Land Northward.

5Now, we know that Corianton and Isabel came into the Land Northward, even unto the place where this record is written, and they did unite the scattered people and build a city and a nation. And great has been their success, for we are daily proof of their doings. But Corianton mourned all the days of his life for the great loss he felt when he returned from the service of the Lord and found in his own country a wickedness greater than that which drove him into foreign lands and cities. Yea, he never again communicated with his father.

6But behold, Alma knew not of their success, for he heard not a word of them from the day they left into the Land Northward. And so bitter was his sorrow upon discovering the cause of their hasty flight into the wilderness, that his heart was broken. Wherefore, Alma gave up the seat of the High Priest, delivering up the records, and departed also into the wilderness. Now, he did not go into the wilderness to find his son, but rather, believing that his words had driven them out of the land, alone and unprepared, he knew in his heart that he had sent them to their deaths. Wherefore, he took not any provision at all, nay, not even an extra cloak, and he went barefooted into the wilderness and was not seen again.

7And some rumor has been voiced about, because of the strangeness of the circumstances surrounding his departure – that he was taken up unto the Lord as was Moses. But we know of no such thing. For, there are three from among the Nephites who were translated, and they are often with us still. Yet, they make no report of Alma or his doing. Wherefore, it is my belief that so great was his grieving, that he went into the wilderness to make peace with his God. And I believe he gave up the ghost there.

8For, God does preserve the life of man when He needs him to work in His vineyard. Yea, know this, if you would live long, make yourself indispensable to the Lord. For, He will preserve your life by the power of His outstretched hand. Yea, by that same power whereby He put forth His hand and made heaven and earth, He will prolong your life. And, if it so be that your desire be continually worthy, and you ask Him it with the kind of faith that the Three Nephite Disciples did, then shall He give unto you a portion of that same power, even power over death. But it is a terrible thing! Wherefore, be patient in all that whereunto the Lord does call you, even to labor and be diligent. But, unless you are strong in heart and can withstand much heartache, ask not that thing of the Lord. Perchance, you might receive of Him even according to your desire, not knowing what you ask of Him.

9For, unto some He has given that they shall tarry until He comes. Yea, and they taste not of death as we do. But behold, these few, who are like unto Enoch of old, and Moses, and His beloved apostle John, do labor yet in His vineyard. And we have record of their doing, either here or in the other worlds of the Lord’s creation. Yea, they are laboring still, preparing the hearts of the children of God, and also establishing Zion in all those places wherein God’s word is believed.

10But they cannot live as you and I live. Nay, they cannot marry and have peace. For, if they do take wife or husband, they shall watch them wither and die, while they change not. And they do not beget children, for their bodies are changed so that they are barren until their work for the Lord shall be completed. And consider how hard their lot would be if they were not barren. Behold, they would also watch their children wither and die, yet they change not at all. And they would be young and see their children age, and weaken, and die. Peace is not given unto them, only that peace which comes of the Lord, for they do daily converse with Him upon the Way.

11But as for Alma, we know nothing. Wherefore, it is my belief that he went into the wilderness out of grieving and died there of a broken heart.

12Now, think upon these things and ponder them in your hearts. For, would it not have been better for Alma had he sought to discern the truth of the matter of Corianton and Isabel? Yea, I do not sit in judgment of my ancestor, but I do ask the question. Was he not a great and inspired man? Yea, and his counsels for his nation were right and just, and guided by God. Would it not have been better to seek the Holy Ghost in th matter of his son?

13And would it not have been different for Corianton and Isabel had Corianton not stayed his tongue? For, though he knew more concerning the matter than his father appeared to, and esteeming his prophet above even the loving reproach of a son, he did not speak the truth to him, a truth that might have prevented much hardship and heartache. For, I believe that, having the word of his son, and a servant of God, over the rumoring tongue of a disappointed merchant, he would have sought the guidance of the Spirit in the matter.

14Wherefore, you fathers of sons, take this history of this great prophet of God and apply it to your own lives. Judge not your children by the rumors of men. Nay, judge not even by the thoughts of your own hearts. Be guided by the Spirit in all your doings with your children. For, are they not the children of God also? And if you offend His little ones, verily I say unto you, You shall also offend Him. And behold, who shall offend the Lord?

15And I speak unto you who are sons of fathers. Judge not your fathers by the wishes of your own hearts, but be guided by the Spirit in all your doings with your fathers.

16And I speak also to you who are called of God to be prophets unto your people. Judge not the people by your own understanding. For, it is as the arm of the flesh, weak and uncertain. Nay, judge not at all but give counsel by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. For, if you do not, yea, if you follow the dictates of your conscience over the promptings of the Holy Ghost, you set yourself above even the Lord of Creation. For it is by the power of the Holy Ghost that He did make an atonement for you. Wherefore, do not think yourself gods because your people demand that you be so.

17And behold, I speak also unto all the people who would call themselves saints. Do not require godhood of your leaders, but godliness. For, it is not sin to require that your prophet be virtuous. Yea, if a prophet be virtuous, then you may with confidence pass over petty faults and differences. But, if you make of them gods to be worshiped, you do commit sin in the eyes of God. For, He shall crush all your idols into sand in the day you bow down to worship them. And if you worship, or in other words, if you esteem your prophets over the gifts of the Spirit, God shall do the same unto them as He did unto the idols of old. Yea, He shall crush them with the might of His Word, and with a two-edged sword. Yea, your idols shall fall, and great shall be the sound of their destruction. For they are but men and shall fall by the shaft, even as I do, even as you do.

18Wherefore, sin not. Honor your prophets, and all those whom God does see fit to call out to your service. Sit you down at their feet and hear the words of God and of angels. But bow not down to them. And when a man or woman shall raise themselves up before you and shall call themselves infallible, either by their callings or by their own strength, forsake them quickly! Give that person no reason to stand above you. Seek instead the Spirit. Yea, be guided by God on high by the power of the Holy Ghost, by that unspeakable gift of revelation. Yea, come upon the Way and sit at the feet of prophets, apostles, angels and God Himself. Bow not down to any feeble, unworthy, and fallible human being.